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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: EURM003 Module Title: EUROPEAN HRM AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Module Provider: Politics Short Name: LIC505
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: BROOKS RM Dr (Politics)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Spring Semester
Assessment Pattern
Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
Essay (2500 words)
50%
Exam (3 hours)
50%
Qualifying Condition(s) 
A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module.
Module Overview
The module aims to examine the principal European business and human resource management issues and explanatory theory within a comparative context.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Module Aims
The main aims of this module are:
  • to develop an understanding amongst students of business and HRM strategies in the framework of an integrating Europe and to understand both convergence and continuing variation in business structures and strategies among key EU countries.
  • to introduce students to the comparative method in the study of business management, including HRM, and to demonstrate how this approach can be used to analyse the interplay of forces which shape business strategy in different national economies;
  • to provide students with an appreciation of the key issues facing European business within an integrating national economy;
  • to provide students with an appreciation of the peculiar industrial relations and human resource management problems and issues faced by multinational organisations and their employees;
  • to develop a particular understanding of the enlarging EU framework for social and industrial relations policies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
 
SUBJECT-SPECIFIC
  • to develop an understanding amongst students of business and HRM strategies in the framework of an integrating Europe and to understand both convergence and continuing variation in business structures and strategies among key EU countries.
  • to introduce students to the comparative method in the study of business management, including HRM, and to demonstrate how this approach can be used to analyse the interplay of forces which shape business strategy in different national economies;
  • to develop a particular understanding of the enlarging EU framework for social and industrial relations policies;
GENERAL
  • to provide students with an appreciation of the key issues facing European business within an integrating national economy;
  • to provide students with an appreciation of the peculiar industrial relations and human resource management problems and issues faced by multinational organisations and their employees.
Module Content
  • The structure of European business and 'varieties of capitalism'
  • Management culture in Europe and the wider world: structures, order and managing diversity
  • Multinational enterprises: theory, characteristics and evolution –'Europeanisation' or 'globalisation'?
  • Industrial policy of the EU: including a case study of semiconductors/aerospace
  • EU liberalisation of network industries: airlines/ telecommunications
  • EU financial market liberalisation: directives and the banking, insurance and stock exchange industries
  • EU competition policy
  • HRM and industrial relations in Germany, France
  • The European Social Chapter and the impact of EMU on employee representation and wage bargaining practice.
Methods of Teaching/Learning
Two hour lecture weekly.
Selected Texts/Journals
Owing to the variety of topics covered, there are no core texts
 
RECOMMENDED
 
Bamber, G. and Lansbury, R. (eds) (1998) International and Comparative Industrial Relations. 2nd edn. London: Routledge
 
Bean, R. (1994) Comparative Industrial Relations: an introduction to cross-national perspectives. 2nd edn. London: Thomson Business Press
 
Dawes, B. (ed) (1995) International Business: a European perspective. Cheltenham: Stanley Thorne
 
Eaton, J. (2000) Comparative Employment relations: An introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press
 
Gannon, M. J. and Newmark, K. (2002) Handbook of Cross-Cultural Mangement. Oxford: Blackwell
 
Harris, H., Brewster, C. and Sparrow, P. (2003) International Human Resource Management. CIPD
 
Harris, N. (1999) European Business. 2nd edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave
 
Hill, C. W. L. (2000) International Business- competing in the global marketplace. London: McGraw Hill
 
Hyman, R. (2001) Understanding European Trade Unionism. London: Sage
 
Kerr, W. A. and Perditis, N. (1995) The Economics of International Business. London: Chapman & Hill
 
Lawton, T. C. (1997) Technology and the New Diplomacy: creation and control of EC industrial policy for semiconductors. Aldershot: Avebury
 
Lawton, T. C. (1999) European Industrial Policy and Competitiveness: concepts and instruments. Basingstoke: Macmillan
 
Lawton, T. C. (2002) Cleared for Take-off: structure and strategy in the low fare airline business. Aldershot: Ashgate
 
Martin, A. and Ross, G. (eds) (1999) The Brave New World of European Labour. Oxford: Berghahn
 
Tyson, S., Lawrence, P., Poirson, P., Manzolini, L. and Vicente, C. (1993) Human Resource Management in Europe Strategic Issues and Cases. London: Kogan Page
Last Updated
01.02.07